March 19, 1999

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods will be around for the weekend at the Bay Hill Invitational, but only because of Matt Kuchar.

Kuchar, a junior at Georgia Tech, carded a 3-under par round of 69 on Friday, bringing his 36-hole total to 2-under 142. Woods had a 72 for 2-over 146, which ordinarily would have been one stroke short of making the cut because he was tied for 71st. But Kuchar is an amateur, and the cut is for the top 70 professionals, so everyone at 146 made it.

Small consolation for Woods, although he narrowly made the cut in San Diego last month before going 17-under on the weekend to win the Buick Invitational.

"It's not necessarily the streak of cuts that it's all about," Woods said, who has failed to qualify for weekend play just once in his career. "It's about giving yourself a chance to win tournaments."

North Carolina alumnus Davis Love III is tied for the lead after posting a 6-under round of 66 on Friday.

Love holed a 45-foot par putt at the 17th hole, then made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to join Tim Herron at 9-under 135 going into the weekend.